| "And he's her father," she replied, sullenly. "He brings home the cash, he supports the family. I'm just a recovering depressive, who spent 2 months in a mental institute. I've got no education outside of High School, no degrees. Who would you put a 2 year old child with?" "Just take off. Get in your car and drive as far away as you can get." "You think I haven't done that? You think that thought hasn't crossed my mind? I have gone, I've taken Mera and our things, and I've gone. But after a few nights in a cheap hotel, I always end up back here. It just wouldn't work, Pacey." "Then come with me. I'll take you back to Capeside, I'll protect you from him." "You aren't listening!" She sobbed. "It's no use. He'd find me, he always does." "Please," he pleaded. He reached across the table and took her hands in his own. "Please." She was about to speak when somewhere in the house a door slammed and she immediately sat up straight. Her brows puckered, and her eyes became wide with fear. "He's home. Get out, Pacey!" "No," he said. "I want to meet this sonofabitch. I want to let him know just who he's dealing with here." "Pacey!" Tears streamed down her face, and she reached across to touch his arm. "Please leave!" Looking at her he knew that a confrontation would only do more harm for her - would only anger Ralston Mackey further. So he gave her one last look, and touching her hand, said, "If you need me�" "I won't." He wanted to go closer, to kiss her, and hold her, tell her everything would be okay. But he needed to get away and be somewhere to think clearly. Plans made in haste never benefit anyone, and he knew that if he forced her from that house, he would only be endangering her life, as well as Mera's. Hard as it was, he had to walk away. As he left, he noted the way Andie went straight to her daughter and immediately picked her up, holding her close as a mother hen might do with her chicks. Retracing his steps to the main entrance, he heard a sudden shouting, Ralston's angry voice, "Other men in my house? Around my daughter? What were you thinking, you stupid woman�" He heard Andie's rushed response, and more screaming on Ralston's part. He guessed the maid had reported to Ralston, as she'd no doubt been trained to do, his arrival shortly before. He wondered at that moment, if his walking away was the right thing to do. * * * When Pacey awoke the next morning, the bed beside him was empty. Lecey's pajamas were already neatly tucked underneath the pillow, so he guessed that she had gotten up early to go hang out with her friends. Dragging himself out of bed, he saw no note left to her whereabouts, and figured she was probably still ticked off at him for the previous day. When he'd returned home from Andie's, it had already been dark and late, so he'd fallen directly into the bed. He had woken up a few hours later, when Lecey had come in, but when she had approached him, he'd feigned sleep so she wouldn't question him about his whereabouts for that evening. Although he was sure she knew of his faking, she'd obviously been too tired to fight with him. She had slipped into her Pajamas before coming to bed, and saying (sarcastically) that she hoped he'd had a good night, before falling asleep. He hadn't gone to bed, but rather lay awake, his thoughts on Andie refusing to rest. On one hand, he felt bad for leaving her, yet on the other hand he didn't know if there was anything he could do for her - yet. He couldn't force her to leave the house, and there was no way he could take her back to Capeside, kicking and screaming. Still, he cursed himself for just plain out leaving her alone. By the time he had fallen asleep, he was sure of one thing -- he was going back the next morning. He had to be sure that she really was okay. He threw on his clothes, brushed his teeth, washed up and was ready to head down for the breakfast part of the day when Lecey stormed into the room. "Pacey! You're up, good." She came over and threw her arms around him. "I've some bad news, honey." He sat back down on the bed. "What?" "We're leaving." He didn't quite understand what she was saying. "For where?" "For home. We've got to throw our stuff back into the suitcases now. It's all such short notice, but we've managed to book a flight back to Capeside this afternoon, the earliest we could, because--" "Way, way, way�" he planted his arms firmly on her shoulders. "Slow down, Lecey. Why do we have to leave today? Our flight isn't scheduled for a few more days." "I know, Pacey, and I hope you aren't too disappointed. But Sarah-Emily got a call this morning that her mother's been hospitalized again. They aren't sure how long she's going to hold out, so they told her she'd best come back as soon as she could. Since we had a flight package booked, we have to go back at the same time she does. And I need to be there for moral support." "Couldn't Sarah-Emily just go back on her own?" He asked. |
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